Common vs Slender Baskettails

57 F degrees, sunny, around 3 to 4 PM

A tip from @m_shields
Distinguishing between Common and Slender can be difficult. In this specimen, the outward bends in the cerci occur closer to the tip (about 2/3 down the length of cerci) than the base, which is typical of Common. In Slender, the bend occurs closer to the base (about 1/3 down the length). This difference is best seen in dorsal view.

I was surprised to see so many baskettails on the Ponderosa trail here which is basically a dirt road through some swampy mixed hardwood and pine woods. There wasn't any water along the road itself but there are ditches with water along the logging road which intersects with the trail road. There were no baskettails near those ditches however--they were all on the trail. The trail is open with a lot of sunshine though so it's not gloomy and the dragonflies were more towards the small opening area near the beginning of the trail where it is very meadow-like.

There were also 2 Blue Corporals in that same area.

Publicado el 20 de marzo de 2023 por amypadgett